UHF RFID Tags Installation Methods for Vehicle Navigation on Paved and Unpaved Roads

Area of Science:

• Engineering
• Transportation Technology
• Embedded Systems

Background:

• Surface-mounted RFID tags are crucial for vehicle guidance but susceptible to damage in snowy regions.
• Damage from snow removal necessitates robust RFID tag embedding solutions for road infrastructure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the communication performance of embedded ultra-high-frequency RFID tags in challenging road conditions.
• To develop and assess novel embedding methods for improved RFID tag durability and functionality on various road surfaces.

Main Methods:

• Investigated RFID tag communication performance with different embedding techniques, including asphalt, geocell-reinforced, and concrete block methods.
• Evaluated the impact of installation angles (e.g., 30°) and materials like PVC pipe holders and crushed stone on system performance.
• Assessed tag stability influenced by water flow and soil displacement in unpaved road scenarios.

Main Results:

• Asphalt-embedded tags with a 30° angle showed initial performance, but durability issues arose in snowy conditions.
• Geocell-reinforced structures with PVC pipe holders maintained comparable communication performance to asphalt embedding.
• Concrete blocks caused significant electromagnetic attenuation, reducing communication range.
• A hybrid design using PVC pipes in concrete blocks filled with crushed stone achieved required communication range and simplified installation.

Conclusions:

• Embedded RFID tags offer a more durable solution than surface-mounted tags for vehicle guidance systems, especially in harsh environments.
• The hybrid embedding design provides a practical and effective method for reliable vehicle navigation on unpaved roads, overcoming limitations of previous approaches.
• This research contributes to advancing robust and adaptable RFID systems for intelligent transportation infrastructure.